Andhra Pradesh police intensify raids against cockfights as Sankranti nears

The Andhra Pradesh police have tightened the vigil on cockfights, the banned traditional sport during the Sankranti, as the festival is nearing. The police have intensified raids on rooster tamers, knife makers, punters, people who lease out their land for setting up cockfight arenas and habitual offenders having connections with the banned sport. The Station House Officers (SHOs) are conducting raids against organising cockfights, manufacturing knives and taming different species of fowls for the fight in villages.

The Andhra Pradesh police have tightened the vigil on cockfights, the banned traditional sport during the Sankranti, as the festival is nearing.

The police have intensified raids on rooster tamers, knife makers, punters, people who lease out their land for setting up cockfight arenas and habitual offenders having connections with the banned sport.

The Station House Officers (SHOs) are conducting raids against organising cockfights, manufacturing knives and taming different species of fowls for the fight in villages.

The police have registered about 5,000 cases against the cockfight and gambling organisers and punters in Eluru, West Godavari, East Godavari, Konaseema, NTR and Krishna districts in the last several years.

“We give names to the rooster before taming them. The birds are trained for improving stamina, attack and escape techniques required for the fight in villages,” said Veeravasaram, a rooster tamer.

Cockfight organisers set up arenas, make-shift shops, fast food centres, digital screens and comfortable seating arrangements. They also set up liquor outlets and gambling dens at the venues for cockfight.